The holidays are coming! Seriously, they're right around the corner, creeping up on us with every passing moment. Family gatherings. Dinner with friends. Holiday parties. Are you ready? If you're not sure what present to give, why not take the leap to a handmade holiday season this year?

I use essential oils year-round. I mix & match oils in my mini diffuser. I add a few drops of essential oil to coconut oil & apply it to my legs for moisture & shine. From home fragrance to body care, Nature's Truth Essential Oils can be incorporated into many creative DIY projects. If you're looking for a simple but special do-it-yourself gift to give friends & family this holiday season, you're in luck. 

You Will Need

Makes 2 heaping cups of body scrub.

How to Make it

1. Combine sugars in a bowl.
2. Slowly mix in the coconut oil.
3. Add Essential Oil.
4. Mix together & scoop the scrub into your sealable container(s).
5. To use: massage a generous amount of scrub to wet skin & rinse off in the tub or shower.

I love to use this scrub in the shower because the spicy scent mixes with the soothing steam to energize the senses. The cinnamon smell is uplifting & reminiscent of holiday baking, while the exfoliating sugars invigorate your skin.

This Cinnamon Sugar Body Scrub is a simple DIY project that anyone will love. I even coaxed my boyfriend to try it out! Use any essential oils your heart desires such as 4 Thrive,  Wintergreen, or Peppermint (one of my faves). Feel free to experiment! I used cinnamon since it's one of my favorite scents.


I'm a genuine essential oil lover & I sincerely hope you try this simple DIY Cinnamon Sugar Body Scrub Recipe. You can use Essential Oils in body scrubs, massage oils, air fresheners, soaps, the list goes on. Here's wishing you happy holidays & happy DIYing!

I love the comfort of a cup of hot tea on a cold & rainy morning. I love seeing the steam dance its way out of the cup & into the air. I love feeling my hands thaw out as I wrap my fingers around the porcelain. I love watching the water transform from a clear liquid to a fragrant, dark drink as the tea leaves steep. I love it all.

Fall is the perfect time to sip on a mug of hot tea. Sprinkle in some Netflix & a cozy velvet blanket & that's my definition of perfection. I like hot tea throughout the year — yes, even during the San Diego summer — but I enjoy it most when it's chilly outside. 

I recently stocked up on some Pure Leaf hot tea from Albertson's to get me through the season, opting for their Green Tea with Mint & Black Tea with Vanilla. Both teas come with 16 pyramid bags in a resealable container. Pure Leaf tea leaves are picked, rolled, & crafted with the finest tea leaves from tea estates around the world. 

The Black Tea with Vanilla combines Indian Assam tea with Madagascan vanilla beans to create a rich aroma & smooth taste. I like to include a generous splash of soy milk to my tea, but it tastes delightful without it because the vanilla shines through.


I chose the Pure Leaf hot Green Tea with Mint because I'm trying to incorporate more green tea into my life. The real peppermint leaves refresh your palate & add so much flavor. I love this tea since it leans more toward the minty side.

For the best taste experience possible, pour 8 fluid oz of hot water over one pyramid tea bag & steep for three minutes. Write down your to do list for the day as your tea steeps to perfection. I prefer using gel pens since they make me feel happy.


I write this in Portland, Oregon, where the temperatures are a drastic drop from sunny San Diego. Tea is most definitely on my mind. You can get $1 off Pure Leaf when you purchase at VONS/Pavilions, Albertson’s, & Safeway.

* Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pure Leaf. As always, all opinions are 100% mine aka Carmen's. Learn more about my disclosure. :]

If there's anything I love more than munchies, it's having munchies delivered to right to my door. How great is that? As a subscription box lover & international snack snob, I thought MunchPak would be a great box to try out. MunchPak sends you snacks & candies from all over the globe.

Price

Boxes start at $9.95 & increase in size & price. You can customize the frequency from once a week, every two weeks, or once a month. If you want the smallest package delivered only once a month, you can do it. If you want the biggest size delivered each week, you've got it. I like that you can modify the size & frequency to make it work for you. Fred & I opted for the medium size ($19.95) every two weeks.

My 4 Box Rule

When it comes to subscription boxes, I believe in the four box rule — a rule I made up myself. Here's how it works: first box is purely trying it out. The second box gives you a better feel for products. The third box means you're becoming pretty well-seasoned with the box & have a general idea of the items included. That fourth box is the final straw to help you decide to cancel or continue the box. Due to the sheer number of subscription boxes out there, I normally unsubscribe after four boxes & try something new.

If you find yourself in the quaint town of Haarlem, Netherlands & if you're looking for a tasty vegetarian meal, go for Thrill Grill. I have to admit there weren't any vegetarian options save for this exact meal, but it was worth it. Thrill Grill is a must-visit place if you want a unique veggie-friendly dish in Haarlem.

I still dream about the Veggie Falafel Thriller, made with homemade falafel, tomato, pickled cucumber, red onion, & bell pepper hummus served on a toasted organic bun. It was so hearty, filling, & huge. It's not your average falafel either; it's incomparable to any type of falafel I've ever had. Pure delight for vegetarians & non-veggies alike.

Ask for Thrill Grill's herb fries, made with homemade, fresh-cut fries & mixed with tarragon & chervil, a relative to parsley. Pure greasy perfection that's best washed down with a glass of Heineken, the famous pale lager beer brewed in the nearby city of Amsterdam. I tell you what, Heineken tastes best when you drink it locally.

Sit outside. You won't regret the marvelous views & the immense amount of people-watching potential. Haarlem has a lot of character with its cobblestone streets, gabled houses, & narrow alleys. Thrill Grill is centrally located in the market square with a perfect glimpse of the Grote of St. Bavokerk, an important landmark & church within Haarlem.

My Thrill Grill falafel burger remains one of the top meals during my month-long trip to Europe last year. Perhaps it was the superb taste or even the inspiring views, but the verdict is the same: amazing. Homemade, home cut fries paired with a non-conventional burger & a cold glass of Heineken mesh together to create a pleasant & harmonious meal. Ah, the memories.